Page 26

Fletcher

I never had a hard childhood per se. It was fine, my father wasn't the proudest father a son could have but I lived. It didn't take a genius to point out how disappointed he was with my lack of Wolf. That I didn't show the proper attitude a Wolf should have. Sure I always won fencing, sword, and axe-throwing matches with my trainers but it was never good enough for him. I was always just lacking in the attitude department. I was too weak-minded , too sympathetic . Not to mention my father always hated my little laboratory. He did so much as to even move my lab down into the dungeons.

Which was great for me, it made it a lot easier to slip in my victims-I mean my guests. Instead of having to trail down the long endless hallways of ice and sapphires, diamonds, and topazes. I simply had to slip in through the garden gates, guide them into the secret passageway, down the stairs, and into the dungeon. What's more, I didn't have to force up mindless chatter with those women for too long. It was all worth the effort of courting them when I heard their screams. Watched as their blood spilled freely onto the damp cobbled stone floor of their cages. In a way, I supposed they looked like trapped birds. It was so fun, the only entertainment those balls presented. How they would beg for their freedom, go as far as to believe that I was under some kind of spell. That was how desperately broken they were to wish what they experienced was just a nightmare. Those little birdies were the best to play with. I would pretend one day that I was back to “ normal ” and the next day that I was “ being controlled ” again.

But now I have Everetta, she was the first person to see through me.

Perhaps it was because she had to live a life of lies herself, always fending off against the rapid dogs of her court. The vultures flying overhead just waiting for you to give in.

Picking up a vial I stirred the brownish concoction.

I remembered that day when my fascination turned into something different, she'd gone through a breakup with Lucarious at the time. Her bright golden waves streamed from her back like waves on the shore glistening against the moonlight. I was going to make her my next victim. It was the perfect time, I saw her crying as she fled the ballroom. Her face was masked in her golden locks, hand clasped over her mouth as she dashed out. Her beauty would have been such a sight to behold after I crushed it. But despite my expectations of tears and red eyes, I saw none of that.

"I could see you staring from there. If you wanna talk you might as well sit next to me." Her voice sounded rather bored for someone who had just gone through a public breakup. I mean, he dumped her live, in front of everyone , declaring Akasuki as his fiancée. I would have been pissed at the very least. The humiliation would have been enough for me to kill the King of Blood and Flames. Of course, I wouldn't show it but I would still be pissed. I would kill him in secret as he snored in his bed, that would have been when I would strike. My father always chastised me for such cowardly ways. He’d say it was too underhanded for us noble Wolves. I told him to sod off. My life was mine to do with. Besides, it was my work that kept our court afloat amongst the rumors and gossip. My shadow work was what kept the Wolf Court royal family from being murdered. My father soon had to acknowledge that fact. It was the reason he never stopped my hobbies .

I smiled my charming smile making my way over to the elegantly furnished wooden bench. I had wondered what would happen if I attacked another royal family. If I had gone after Everetta would the Griffin and Wolf Court have gone to war?

"Thank you, I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare you just looked so-"

She'd cut me off before I could even make any attempt of flattery. It wasn't a lie what I was going to say, she was gorgeous.

"Please, don't waste your breath. I'm really tired today, between your brother's damn hassling about etiquette and elegance, and my queen 's damn hounding about impressions and reputation, I'm about drained from the day. Don't get me wrong I love them both but, for magics’ sake, they're both just so annoying. Don't do that, do this, not that, take this, wear that, don't eat that. Honestly, if it was up to me I‘d run away by now. I don't even give two shits about the crown. All I want is a nice simple life, is that too much to ask?" She rattled on before chugging a bottle of fairy wine. Lucarious would never just serve simple alcohol; it was always going to be the best of the best and also the most alcoholic. Even one shot would make any normal fae topple over in a daze. Yet, here she is still bright-eyed and sober. I was left speechless for the first time in my life.

"If it wasn't for the queen's wishes I wouldn't even be here.” She began again before chugging another swig of her wine.

“Hell, this whole thing was Lucarious’ idea. The whole reason I'm in this damn societal mess is because I lost a fucking coin flip. Coward, he fucking knew he couldn't beat me so he used a coin fucking flip. You know-" She continued, pausing as she popped a whole two-foot werehound drumstick in her hands. The brown glimmering sheen of the cooked meat did look rather appetizing, I'll admit that, but I certainly wouldn't have chopped down on it like she was.

Taking a meaty bite of the thing and swallowing, her throat bobbing from the chunk she inhaled, Everetta turned to me, "-I only agreed to flip the coin 'cause we've known each other for years. So for our friendship's sake, I decided to grant him his favor cause I lost. Who the fuck knew his favor was going to put me into deep shit with my court. I mean does he even know the complications of all this breakup shit. Mhfm, this is really good. Anyway, we were the ideal couple, the most fearsome, and now, me-" Everetta stated, her mouth full of meat again. She swallowed the lump of thigh meat.

"Me- the saintess of the Griffins, the favored child of my court is fucking dumped. Does he even know the black mark he's stained on my reputation? And now I have to-" She took another bite of the juicy meat.

"Now I have to fix it all before my queen finds out. I mean getting dumped once was fine, I did the dumping, but who the fuck does he think he is to dump me , like that . Does he know how much sucking up I’ll have to do now to get the nobles on my side again? They'll find one way or another to twist this damn breakup into making me look like I'm unfit to be the saintess."

Another swallow and bite.

"I'm by no means religious but you know the creature conservation the church does? If I'm not the saint who knows what the next one would do with the creatures? Oh an' don't look at me like that, I know who you are. Wanna bite?" Handing me her half-eaten meat, her eyes seemed to say ‘Go ahead’. I cleared my throat, blinking in shock as I stared wide-eyed at the bone peeking out of the monstrous meat. How in the lords had she eaten all of that in a matter of minutes?

"I'd like to respectfully decline." I stared at the mass in horror as I firmly shook my head. Everetta shrugged, taking another bite. Her willowing blue gown Eli had fitted her in really looked stunning in the moonlight. The glow of the rubies against the navy blue, and the golden embroidery of wings against her chest line. Simply magnificent.

"Suit yourself. But I just figured you know with your whole persona of ‘ innocence’ you'd like to just let loose once in a while. Hmm, maybe your way of letting loose is just torturing little girls." She tossed out, causing me to pause. No one should know that except my family, so how?

Did Eli tell her? That bloody bastard always told her everything. I thought at the very least that he'd keep that a secret. Protect our family from shame and all that. I stared back at her smirking face, her meat gone, her face clean of the brownish-red sauce it was covered in seconds ago.

"You know, you’re quite the oddball. You show this kind, lovely face, and then you turn around and torture little girls. Sure they're like what one hundred and eighty sun cycles? But still, they're rather young compared to us don't you think? I must say you did such a magnificent job on that last one. But, if I were to change one thing, I suggest you try using needles next time. Place it right under the nails, and it's really painful there. Makes it last longer too. They don't die as fast." She shrugged just as she threw herself at me, her face suddenly covered in red swollen eyes. This was the look I had expected when I first saw her out here. Her face plastered to my chest as she wept.

"I- just, thank you." She sniffed as my elder brother's voice rang out.

"Everetta! Where the bloody hell did you run off to?" He asked worry written all over his face as Everetta dabbed at her eyes with my handkerchief.

"E-Eli. I'm fine, really just getting some fresh air." She choked up, her voice shaking with sorrow, as I stared befuddled. My expression quickly returned to normal, my blank mask back in place, I doubt my brother saw but she did. She'd arched her elegant brows as if to tell me to play along.

I smiled inwardly at the display before me. Well, isn't this going to be fun to watch? "Want to have a little fun? After all, Lucarious did dump me publically." A voice that sounded like Everetta’s whispered in my mind as I stared back at her, the wet stains on her face already fixed by my brother's magic. I smiled back softly. I watched as Eli, in his white dapper suit and tie, fussed and soothed a crying Evie. It was then I truly started falling for her. I didn't quite know why at the time hell, I don't even think I do now. All I know is that my heart never skipped a beat till I saw her.

"Yes, that’s right, I found her here, and I thought I'd keep her company for a while if that was ok," I said meekly. Everetta's small smirk slid back to me from the edges of Eli’s shoulder where he couldn't catch her expression. Eli’s arms looped around her like a parent comforting his child.

We'd grown closer since then and she'd visit my lab every so often. It was in one of her many visits that I found out what her true intentions that night were, and how fun it turned out to be. I had suspected but it wasn't until she told me that it was confirmed.

"You wouldn't happen to know why my brother suddenly conquered six of the former Phoenix Court's lands, would you? I thought they were the best of friends." I asked as I silently requested for the dragon's scales.

"Well, I couldn't lift a hand of violence in the name of vengeance. I mean I'm a saintess after all and Eli sure was pissed that his dearest friend was hurt by such a lecherous man, add in the fact that his little crush just so happened to be engaged with said lecherous man, and bam. Eli just wanted to settle the score with Lucarious. Besides friends or not, when you've lived as long as we have or will be living, a friend is the same as an enemy." She shrugged as she read through one of my new books, her elbows resting on the large table.

I smiled, staring at the siren opposite me. Her golden locks streamed from her back and her golden eyes twinkled with blue mirth. I noticed that quite often, less so now but whenever she's overly excited or angered a hint of blue seeped into her irises. If I recall her name was Everetta Scarlett Everden Gillian Avalar Viana Seraph Phoenix Siren Lion Wolf Griffin, I wondered just what was in her genes. Was she part chameleon, but wouldn't that have been in her name? Perhaps it was so diluted in her blood she couldn't have it as part of her name. Then how was she able to change her forms? Was it magic perhaps? I wouldn't be surprised if she could use her magic for transformation and not just glamour. Although it took a great amount of magic to change, say, the color of your hair or the shape of your nose it was possible. The longer the name a fae had the stronger they were.

"Don't even think about it." She silently growled flipping through another page. Her tone no longer held the glee from before, a quiet warning held in the air as she spoke. "I can see your gears turning. You're trying to figure it out, my genes, don't . I hate it when fae snoop around on my genetics. So, don't Flynny." Her eyes honed in on me, a not-so-subtle hint to drop the subject. I stared back at her golden depths, the blue tint non-existent like I'd just imagined it all.

Shaking my head out of the past I stared down at the beauty lying in my arms. How I wish we could just stay this way, but I knew she wouldn't be too happy with me if we did. Lords, how in the world did all of this happen?

One minute I was in a room, completely unseeing and filled with nothing but pitch-black darkness. Then suddenly a bright light glowed from somewhere. I walked towards it, in hopes it was my new life, but just as I reached the gateway I was bulldozed off the trail. I should have been prepared to stand my ground. I was too caught off guard. I was too confident that I would just be back in my former body, that no one else but me could possibly inhabit my body even in a new life. Lords how I was wrong. But new body or not first things first. Before I can take vengeance on the little prince who stole my body, I need to heal Evie.

Gently placing the unconscious Everetta against the newly formed sheets, I sighed. Thank god I still have my magic in this life. In the past, I had to give up my magic to save Luna or part of it. The majority of my magic was sacrificed for something far more necessary. Something no fae can ever find out.

Luna and I had been the best of friends for as long as I could remember. She and I were the black sheep of our respective families. We had a mutual understanding of one another. She helped maintain my image as the Soft-hearted Prince of the Wolf Court. But, she’s used up all my mercy. I warned her time and time again. I forgave her if only because she seemed genuinely worried for me. This time was the last. I can't forgive her again. I told her if she tried something like last lifetime I wouldn't let her go so easily.

Who else could it have been? Who else could make such a poison that would work on Everetta, a fae who was practically immune to poisons? Reincarnated or not I know she wouldn't just let her body be vulnerable to toxins.

At first, I thought she was going mad because of the forced memory loss she was experiencing. Then the small tells, like the slightly tinted purple in her magic, the small discoloration so minuscule anyone would have overseen it, told me all I needed to know.

Poison .

Poison was in her system and no one would have as much of a vendetta against a fae of Everetta’s caliber but Luna.

No fae unless they were nearly as strong or stronger would ever want to fight a fae that could topple a whole kingdom with just a flick of her hand.

Luna, she'd done so before.

She started it all, the catalyst for the events of the past. The trigger that caused the fall of the ROYALS . I still don't know what that acronym means, ROYAL . Evie came up with it in an attempt to put some spark into our mundane lives. When you've lived for more than a trillion sun cycles, or maybe even longer, like we have, you tend to try and make life interesting. Fae like Lucarious, Everetta, Eli, me, or hell even Akasuki play power games to keep ourselves entertained. Or you could try and gain all there is to know about the world.

Everetta's always loved traveling. Exploring the world. I've traveled with her on some of her adventures to different realms but nothing beats manipulating the way people behaved.

With the long lives we have you start making a big deal of the smallest things in an attempt to make life more interesting. You wage wars, friends turn into enemies then back into allies. You try to dabble in all sorts of arts.

I stared down at the love of my life. Pushing back her blond curls, her bright smiles and nonchalant giggles, her hidden anger, her cunning mind behind her mask of joy.

"Only I will know how you truly feel, my love. I'll save you, I promise."

The issue I couldn't wrap my mind around was just how Luna got the chance to poison Everetta in the first place. She couldn't have just slipped into the room without anyone noticing. Everetta also had contingency spells for when she slept. No fae could get past her magic unless they were allowed.

So how?

I glided my hands across the room. Swiftly changing the ash-covered room, the tainted ragged curtains charred in black, and floors stained with burn marks out for a fresh rose daisy smell with a hint of spice, newly sowed light blue silk curtains made from the finest of fine sapphire diamonds, and a simple lining of blue diamonds encrusted with asher wood, a substance I found to help cover the tracks of sound, memory, etc.

It truly is a fascinating substance. It could be made into all sorts of things. It holds many forms and properties, truly rare. Hopefully, the new bed sheets I formed were comfortable enough for her. As for that red powder near the door, what an idiotic invention, it was nothing but the ground-up product of asher wood. Sure, it also keeps sound from leaving the room but only to a certain volume. Given how the servants haven't come in and changed the sheets by now they must not have been aware of Everetta's meltdown days before. Or my brother must have barred them from entering using his magic.

Something was definitely wrong with this castle and its servants. Not only have I seen no guards stationed outside her room- wait a minute no guards? Which meant Luna wouldn't even need to sneak past anyone to get in, but Everetta should have had her detection spell up unless she didn't remember the spell, because of a certain fae.

"Oh, brother what in the lords have your actions caused," I muttered into the quiet room as I trudged over to the new table coasting my hands over the flat wooden surface. Vials and bottles, glass beakers, powders, scales, petals, anything and everything I needed popped up before my eyes underneath the wave of my hands. I am so glad I have my magic back now but, before anything, I need to confirm my hypothesis.

Swiftly strolling over to the love of my life I gently lifted the pale, almost gaunt-like state of her arms and checked her pulse. To a normal person, it would feel normal. Even to a well-trained doctor, it may seem perfectly fine; however, if you look closely at the veins, there was a slight differentiation of blue and purple. The soft barely there pauses between beats that halted longer than normal.

Yes, I was correct. It's just as I feared.

It's violet blueberry poppy, this flower when ingested or injected into the system could have fatal side effects. It does wonders for adjusting moods and even, sometimes, appearances. The slight tint of purple in her veins was the only indication that the poppy was being used. I only know this because those in the spirit realm use this powder quite often to get high.

Now the pulse, off by a quarter of a second, the only thing that can affect the flow of one's blood would have to be dragon's tongue. Normally it was used to help slow down the pulse purely to avoid detection of any other drugs used but it shouldn't last for longer than an hour. It's often paired with another drug to help amplify the time like rosemary lime seeds, mermaid scales, or shadows brine, a concoction made to help hide or repress something, which is then often paired with violet blueberry poppy in poisons.

But what's odd is the gaunt look of her body. Everetta was fine a moment ago, perfectly healthy, glowing in fact, then as I carried her to her room she suddenly became like this. It could purely be due to magic, sometimes after releasing large amounts of magic a fae's body would seem gaunt; however, Everetta was no normal fae. Although she did release more magic than what she normally used.

Besides, if I was right, she had to have been using the same amount that she had used today for nearly five days or more, judging by her state. When I had walked in she was already looking pale and fragile. Not that Eli even noticed, lords, he can be so up in his own mind at times.

Judging by the sudden decline in shadows from when I first came to this court and now, I already knew she must have been the one to have killed them. No doubt using their life force to fuel her magic, which is why she didn’t have a lack of magic. But to be able to remember that complex spell she used, I wonder… does she have her memories back now?

I looked down at my bond on the bed. No, let's focus, for now, I need to find a cure or something that can halt the flow of poison rushing throughout her veins. The problem was, how long had the poison been in her system?

Something about this was strange.

As much as I would love to just use my magic and save her. I can't, if I am correct, doing so without the proper cure might spread the poison faster. As much as I am sure that Evie would have no trouble fighting this off herself I don't want to risk it.

This poison was no mere poison; a poison made by Luna wouldn't be as easy as a flip of the hand or snap of your fingers. Using magic never did work on Luna's poisons anyway.

I have a good idea of what Luna used to make the poison so all that's left is for me to make a cure, except.

"I do sincerely apologize for this unruly act, my love; however, what must be done must be done," I whispered to no one in particular as I waved my hands over her body. Removing the tattered clothes she wore, the black-stained suit of hers- what was she wearing? I smiled softly at her unusual sense of taste. She was always like this, with her mismatched pants and little shoes. What was she thinking? I shook my head as I cleared the pieces of cloth from her body; I refused to call that whatever she wore, clothing. I wrinkled my nose at the sight of the mud-stained pair of– what are those? Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes.

After examining her more-than-perfect body, I uncovered several effects of the poison on her body. It was practically tearing her apart from the inside out. This was quite a large dosage, something she should have been able to detect; however, because of the gizzard skin, it was left undetected and the poison was more effective. How interesting. Where in the world did Luna get gizzard skin for her poison?

Never mind that Everetta should have still easily detected that if she—right, that problem. Honestly, those two need to learn to trust one another, for lords sake; they were bloody soulmates for crying out loud, one half of the other, quite literally. Eli's soul was half of Everetta's. Then again, gizzard's skin has a layer of anti-magic to it, so the only way she would know is if her skin changed color due to the poppy; that is why the dragon's tongue was used, to help mask it in turn for a slight changing of the pulse. Quite a nice mix she used. She used the shadow brine to help amplify the poppies, but the skin and tongue, to keep the poison undetected. In addition, the skin would also help amplify all the other toxins since the brine is only for the poppy. By throwing all these ingredients in not only would it make it harder to create an antidote but also make the effects of the dosage worse.

But I just don’t understand why poppy. What could a shift in mood do, to make her hate Eli? But how could she—no, knowing those two it was bound to happen, by amplifying the mistrust and combining that with how volatile Everetta was already, her instability was bound to skyrocket. That and the other drugs, all combined and it would practically make an incurable virus. She also included a fast-paced drug, helping to spread the poison, which means the gaunt look must not be from her recovery after using so much magic, but just as I suspected her body was subconsciously fighting against the drug without her knowing.

Her conscious and subconscious, I knew from hopping into her dreams to talk with her when I finally could, were still at odds; her amnesia and all. So if that was still the case, and Luna knew that means…

Essentially, Everetta's body was fighting back with magic through her subconscious, knowing that Luna had poisoned her, while her conscious body was fighting back against her subconscious, thinking her body was trying to kill itself, not knowing why thanks to the gizzard's skin and dragon’s tongue, but because her subconscious and conscious were in conflict, that means the body was essentially damaging itself as she would be using the same amount of magic to fight back. Higher and higher, with one piece of the mind against the other. Like a tug of war. If one side fought, the other side would fight harder, and so the cycle would repeat. Each time pulling harder and harder, but in her case using more and more magic, which you would think would mean her body would be getting healthier but that wasn't true.

Yes, her body was taking more and more energy to use magic, it was also expelling that same amount of energy just as quickly and in more and more amounts. Thus, eventually, she would expel more than she could take in. That scene in the ballroom might have just skyrocketed the effects of the poisoning. She expelled a large amount not to fight the poison but something external, in this situation, doing so would only worsen her condition. Even if she was a ROYAL ; she could still fucking die.... again.

Fuck .

By stripping her of that thing she wore, I was able to spot the initial injection sight, her left wrist, both her ankles, and her lower stomach. Those areas had a slightly darker purple tint than the rest, which means when injecting I need to inject those sites first.

The issue is the combination of so many concoctions, though not impossible, but when compiled with drugs that would also counteract any drug I might put in too… That and if I do attack the virus, the subconscious would stop its fighting as the conscious side would continue to fight back essentially against her own body; not only could she get injured but also be placed into a fatal state. I can't let that happen. So what drug do I use to counteract it?

No, not drug, drugs.

It'll be a risk but…

One I must brew something that helps her regain her memories. She might not like my help but I have to at this point. I've tried to be patient and help her out by giving her tiny hints in her mind, letting her think she regained them herself. Normally I would love to allow her to solve her own problems but in this case, I can't take the risk. I'll apologize to her later.

I'll have to inject the cure—but if her memories don't return then—shit, I'll have to see how far the poisons traveled, then see how much of the counter drug I need to inject. I looked across her body staring at the left wrist, ankles, and lower stomach, watching where the purple veins seemed to get dimmer, and more of the natural blue color Everetta’s veins were.

I was just about finished with my potion after three or so hours of brewing and trials when the door suddenly busted open. The swift frozen breeze of winter and snow attacked my nose before the brother I was a bit peeved at entered the room.

"Brother, do close the door. It's getting a bit drafty here; it's not good for my patient." I could practically feel the eye roll he was giving me at my statement. I rolled my eyes back as I poured my last concoction into the vial.

"I assume you did what I'd suggested," I turned to face the bedraggled man, but his perfectly combed hair and neatly ironed shirt sure conflicted with the madness going through his mind. His eye trained on the love of my life. Well, isn't that suspicious.

My brother has always cared for my bond. But I had always assumed it was platonic. Perhaps her death had finally caused the man to open his eyes to new feelings. If so then that would be quite troubling.

"I want a damn explanation!" He shouted as the door shut with a slam. I smiled in greetings before turning back to my brother as I arched a brow. Was he seriously going to act like this now? He'd just been crowned king for lords’ sake, show some self-restraint. As if he was reading my mind, Eli cleared his throat.

"How is she?" He asked more calmly as he straightened his already clean-cut button-up. I nodded, gently pouring the blackish liquid past her lips. To be fair I did have the potion midway done before I even came here just in case. Not that I was expecting this to happen. I figured she must have had some memory loss to not have sought me out once she reincarnated. I didn't, however, account for Luna to poison Evie. The best I can do for her now is hopefully restore her memories, as there isn't any possible potion I could use now as an antidote to whatever Luna had implanted into Evie's system.

Hopefully, when Evie awakens she’ll know what to do.

"She’ll be a little unstable, but she will be better. So, how did the king respond to your request? You came back rather quickly. I was expecting you to take at least an hour longer." I asked, going back to my little desk in Evie's room. Turning I smiled softly back at my brother. Honestly, barging in here, did he not have his manners in this life?

Sighing, Eli slouched onto the soft blue European button-tufted sofa near the edge of the room, "As expected, the bloody bastard didn't even think I could take him on. Had the servants prepare the whole thing in a matter of minutes. Of course, I took him down, it took less than a few minutes."

I cocked my brow, sighing, “Brother- we may not be blood-related in this life, but I am still me. I know what I’m doing especially with Evie, there’s no need for you to be here." I am a bit peeved he'd even doubt my skills. So what if I had a different face in this life, my skills were still as sharp as ever. Sure he didn't say it out loud, but the fact that he was even here meant that he didn't trust me.

"Unlike someone I know," I muttered under my breath so he wouldn't be able to hear. After all, I was still bitter about this whole ordeal. I mean if only my brother hadn't played his whole “ I'm the fucking alpha ” and trusted her with her memories, for fucks sake. Yes, of course, I figured things out, I mean Evie practically told me so with her damaged body. She wouldn't even be in this position if she'd remembered that spell. No way would she have let herself be so vulnerable and exposed. But now is not the time to pin the blame on my brother. I sucked in a breath cooling my nerves.

"What?” Eli barked, sounding a little confused and offended. Rolling my eyes at him I only cocked a brow. He got offended by everything and anything honestly did he even hear me?

My darling Evie might love to play games with him. But I liked to play them slightly differently, which meant no angering the little king.

"What?" I plastered a confused look towards my brother to throw him off his game to make it sound like he was just hearing things. Specifically to make sure that he just mistook my muttering as nothing but a jostle in the wind.

Even more confused now, my brother stared back at me blinking rapidly as if trying to puzzle things together. Eyeing me suspiciously as if to get me to admit to my little lie, I frowned back at him. My brother sat down shaking his head, “No- nothing, it must be the wind."

I smiled inwardly, one point for me and zero for Eli. I do love messing with him, take it as payback for all this shit he was putting me through with my dear Evie. Just because I'm more outwardly calm doesn't mean I'm not still pissed.

Despite having just returned from a battle against the king, I have to say his appearance was as impeccable as always. His white button blouse and navy blue trousers were not in the least bit wrinkled. However, the fact that he didn't just flash here was no doubt a sign that he was worn from the battle with the former Winter King, as much as he was trying to hide it. Well, I guess he is the king now. Then again, the fact that he's storming down here makes it all too clear who won. I don't even need his words of confirmation to know. After all, you can't win a duel for the throne without killing your opponent, at least not in the Wolf Court. But I am surprised the former king agreed so quickly and to have the battle on the spot.

Hmm, strange. Or perhaps the former king was so confident that he could win he accepted and had the duel to get it over with. No, if I knew my father, he was never a spontaneous man no matter how prideful he was of his strength. Though could I truly call him a father in this life?

"Eli- I don't think this is a very good time to have a chat with me right now. Why don't you focus on managing your court? You'd gain their trust a lot more that way rather than allowing our dear sister to take your place." I stated because if I was being truthful I was a bit peeved at my brother and his presence was not helping cool my anger.

Eli, being here must have meant he left the after-duel chores to my younger sister.

"I-" Eli began, poking at my thin patience. I could feel the sudden shift in the air as the room chilled a little, a nice frosty breeze fighting against the frozen ground. Oh, so he was pissed too? Please, what did he have to be angry about? This was his fault.

I smiled blasting back against his frozen floors with my cool breeze, "Brother, I recommend that you do not push me, king or not, we both know-"

"That Akasuki will still stay here and we will have a chat. Lords know this will be my only opportunity to do so with both my brothers' blood or not." Snow's placid monotone voice came in piling a drizzle of frost against my wind. Behind her was Akasuki, my former master in this life.

I opened my mouth to protest. After all, I need to monitor Everetta's pulse and her reactions to the antidotes. As I was about to explain all this to my little sister she held up a hand to halt the words ready to burst through my throat. She sighed giving me one of her famous ‘ do not test me’ glares.

" I. Have. Held. This. Court. Together. Alone. For the past, I don't know, seventeen hundred sun-cycles? And all I'm asking is a simple conversation with two of my dearest brothers, who banished me from this realm my other lifetime. Now, won't you both join me in my studies?" Without another ounce of breath, my little sister turned strolling away in her elegant blue silk ball gown.

I cleared my throat, "Brother, after you." I gestured a hand out of the frost-covered room, the windows glazed in ice as the floors were blanketed in freshly fallen snow.

"Don't mind if I do." Eli nodded as he hurriedly scrambled off the sofa, scurrying out of the room. I heard a heavy sigh and Akasuki's mutter beneath her breath, "Idiots."

It was awkward, really awkward as we both stood there like toddlers under the disapproving ire of our youngest sister. How in the lords were we even in this situation, she was the youngest of us. Snow made no moves to cross her arms, or even tap her foot like Eli or I tended to do when we were angry. All she did was stare with her cool blue gaze, her icy temper cooling the room to a bitter cold, under negative one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

"So-" Eli trudged, only to bear the sole brunt of our younger sister's rage as her frosty snow-blue eyes turned their roaring chill on him.

"N-Never mind," Eli muttered efficiently, tucking his head under his white collar.

"So, shall we get everything out at once? One day, I was reading a book, when suddenly both my brothers barged into my room. Both the sensible one and the intolerable one teamed up to throw me into some random realm, I don't even know, without a single regard as to my safety-" The only sign of her temper was her quick pacing as she recounted our past actions.

"W-well it was safe-" I tried explaining how we did check to make sure the realm we had sent her to was safe and suited her tastes.

Her icy beams turned towards me, “What.” I quickly shut my mouth staring blatantly at the white marbling of the floor. I think I'm just going to start counting the amount of snowflakes on the ground.

One snowflake.

Two snowflakes.

"As I was saying without a single regard for my safety. No matter how safe the ‘ ratings ' are about the realm, who's to say the spot you tossed me to was ? On top of all that, have you ever considered my feelings on this? How much do you want to bet that you two were going to do it again? But don't worry, I've already taken precautions so that you can't do that in this life. We're siblings, blood or not, we stick together. Through shadows and flames, we help each other, we don't just leave one another or force the other one to leave, even if things get dangerous. Have you ever thought about how much worry and pain you brought me when you did that? Before you say anything, yes , I did worry. I worried if you both were alive or not." Her voice had started to crack at this point. Worried I dared to look up at her glistening eyes.

"If you both were even eating as mundane as that sounds. I am your little sister, youngest or not I am a part of this family, and we are all Wolves. We do not just abandon one another, forced or otherwise." Tears were streaming down her pale white face. As Eli and I made a move to help clean up her tear-streaked face the only imperfection to her adorable petite features. Snow held up a hand halting our movements. As always she was a Wolf to the tips of her head to the bottoms of her feet, she didn't dare let us help her. We Wolves had a reputation to uphold.

"I tried to come back you know, I wasn't able to until something- I don't know but a light burst in my vision, and the next thing I knew I was reborn back in this realm. I guess what I'm saying is I missed you both, a lot. And a lot has happened too, like a lot, things are really messed up in the realm, and father- I don't know what happened but one day he started acting weird. It was when that new queen took over for the Griffins. Then the shadows, lords, all the shadows. They were everywhere. Are everywhere. I don't know if you saw it on your way here, brother." She said turning to Eli her composure coming back as her impassive mask fit back into place like it never left at all.

"But these shadows, they’re different. There’s something about them. They’re far more… knowledgeable than when Lucarious controlled them. It's as if they have more power." Snow finished as she stared back at Eli, her mask firmly back in place.

Eli frowned, never the one to hide his emotions as he shook his head, "No, I mean we encountered one but I don't think anything about it was strange. It was all so hazy I don't recall. Wait, I think… Everetta tried to kill it with her light but it didn't work.”

Snow sighed as I cocked a brow at Eli, "You didn't think that was suspicious."

Eli rolled his eyes ever ready to defend himself against any fae who might criticize him, “Well, I had a king to overthrow, shadows were the furthest from my mind. Besides, I also- Never mind."

Well, at least he was smart enough to shut his mouth about controlling Everetta's memories. I would have smacked him across the head if he hadn't. Just how idiotic had my brother become?

"So something is going on with these shadows but what?" I asked, trying to come up with the answer myself as I stared back at my siblings in confusion.

"They shouldn't have been able to live after an attack by Evie, it doesn't make sense." I elaborated because shadows shouldn't have been able to get stronger. They were stagnant things, monsters, creatures, shifted fae, call it whatever, but they shouldn't be able to grow in power.

Eli sat with his legs crossed by the fireplace covered in ice and snow. Despite the roaring fire below, no teardrops dripped from the white frost covering the mantle. We Wolves didn't need the fire to keep us warm. Our bodies had already grown accustomed to the cool climates of this court. Perhaps that was why they had renamed this place the Winter Court. Its unbearable latitudes, the constantly frozen streets, the howling winds of the north, the roaring tides of the cold constantly bashing against the mountains.

Home.

I stared back at the brother who had caused my lover a great many hardships and sighed as I sunk down on the chair between him and my sister. Glancing from the corner of my eyes I caught Eli and Snow doing the same.

We watched our younger sister take a sip of the tea she must have had the servants prepare. Her elegant cool placid face was as calm as ever despite the tears that had marked it not long ago.

My sister never cried much.

Was transferring her away in our past lives really that hard on her? Perhaps, we made a mistake. But if she had stayed would she have been safe? Then again we all reincarnated anyway. Still, it grieves me to know that I had caused her pain.

"The shadows have spread, ever since I was a little girl in this life. They've been growing in numbers. When I was born in this life Lucarious had already been dethroned by the Duchess of Autumn. At least that is what they're calling her. No one knows what her origins are. I've tried collecting some information on her but all the informants I sent were slaughtered, to say the least. Sent back to me with their heads disassembled like puzzle pieces." Snow popped up a black and gold cardboard box on the see-through iced table in the middle before us, her cool winter magic touching the tips of her hands. No doubt some spell must have been used to preserve it or else the blood would have soaked through the layers of paper by now.

The box itself was in pristine condition. The black coloring seemed to shimmer in the light, way too extravagant for a mere box. The gold ribbon tied across the thing made it seem like more of a gift than what it was.

As we all stared inside the opened box I heard the bile rise up my brother's throat as he worked hard not to let it out. His right hand wrapped over his mouth as his left clenched his stomach, "I think I'm going to be sick," Eli waved his hands in the air no doubt to manifest the little ice bucket before him as he vomited, dunking his whole head in.

Snow rolled her eyes, flicking her hands to remove the odor of whatever Eli had eaten and regurgitated from today.

Staring back down at the mess in the box I spotted what looked like a dark brown eye and a mangled right cheek torn from the hollow gap in the woman's face. Her remaining left eye stared back, clouded and unseeing. Her nose seemed to have been severed in half from her face as the bottom peak of her nose lay in a bright red pool at one of the right corners of the box. Her hair was a tangle of crimson and brown, nearly black as I picked up the crusted little pieces of dirt glued to her mane.

Horrified and disgusted, Eli looked at the clump in my hands.

"Oh lords, I think I am going to be sick again. Why would you touch it?" Eli croaked as he hurled into his ice bucket again.

"Hmm, the texture, remind me again sister isn't the Phoenix Court known for their wide different assortments of Deserts? It's rich sands and exotic plants. Black sand on the other hand can only be found in the throne room of the Phoenix Court. Which means." I began as I flicked my hands cleaning my blackened figures.

"She must have been in the throne room when they tortured her.” Snow finished for me as she stared back at me. Her eyes were glistening with knowledge that only she knew. She was keeping something from me or more likely she was trying to tell me something. But why can't she just tell me out right?

"She's seen the Duchess of Autumn," I breathed out picking up the detached eye as I heard Eli belch once more. Snow frowned, popping up a blue sapphire embroidered handkerchief to cover her nose with, I suppose magic could only do so much.

"And what does that mean?" He gasped out as he hurled his guts into his magical bucket. Too bad that bucket doesn't prevent the smell of acid lingering in the air.

"It means if we can get a glimpse of this so-called Duchess of Autumn and a look into how she tortured the girl. No doubt by using her magic, which means we'd get a first-hand account of how her magic looks. You should know that by now, Eli. Every magic has a signature. And we can access the sight from this here eye-" I winced as I watched the sight of my dear brother’s face turn even more sickly green. I guess the sight of a red-tinted eye in my hand was too much for him?

"We would be able to see this new ruler. However, it seems that the pupils had been dissected. Hmm, how odd, only a few people know how to evade the spell..." I trailed off as I gazed harder at the little hole carved in the eye. It was like a small drill had been used to pierce through the center of the appendage.

"So?" Eli mopped the bile off from the corners of his mouth with a flick of his hands.

"So, without the pupil, one can't use any spell to see anything. The spell requires the pupils and the iris. The pupil lets the light into your eyes as the muscles of the iris change the amount of light seen. Cut one off and you might as well cut the other. Hmm..." A scowl marred my face, brows scrunched as I peered back into the box.

"Brother could you give me a dagger please," I asked as Eli frowned, popping up an ice dagger. Handing me the blade I slit open the mangled squashed head. Cutting a straight line across the forehead of the disembodied head. It was rather soft, which meant despite my sister's snow magic the thing was still decaying just at a slower rate. Ripping out the pink organ as I watched my brother cover his mouth once more before flashing back his ice sapphire-encrusted bucket.

"Well, it's a good thing we still have this. We can peek through the memories. A bit intrusive but I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem with that right brother?" I arched a brow back at his frowning slightly greenish face. His lips tilted in a near snarl at my connotations. Flicking up his middle finger towards me he narrowed his eyes across the bucket at me before he rolled them as if to say I knew nothing of his reasons. As if I was being the petulant child, "I did what was best for her." Even when he was vomiting the man still managed to look angry. What a famous scowling face he certainly has.

I rolled my own blue eyes as I tilted my head at him ready to call him out on what I was suspecting had formed from his scrambled feelings, "Do you love her?" I asked but before he could answer Snow sighed quite heavily and loudly.

"Enough with the poking. We have bigger matters at hand than some banter you two might have. Who cares how he feels, we both know who she likes, now calm your bloody ass down before I tear you both a new one. Besides Eli has his mate to care about, don't you." Snow turned her frosty cool glare on Eli, effectively silencing the both of us before the fight could even begin. Clearing his throat Eli nodded, as if he was ashamed. I too decided it might be best to concede for now. Snow was right, we do have bigger matters to handle right now. First, I had to make sure Everetta was better.

"I should head back. Check up on her pulse. See how she's doing." I started only to have Eli stepping up.

"I'll come with you-" but before he could finish his death sentence Snow intruded.

She might have just saved his life.

My eyes narrowed in on my so-called brother.

"Eli and I will handle the nobles. They should be able to talk with their new king after all. Us being a united font right now would help smooth out your transitioning." Snow sharply pointed her ice-blue eyes at our brother. Looking bashful for once in his life, Eli straightened as he cleared his throat. Regaining his composure Eli nodded as if he hadn't just challenged me, “Right, of course. But please Flyn- Fletcher, do keep me informed. I- I'm just worried about her. I truly did not mean for things to go this way. Please." I sighed nodding. I do understand where he was coming from. He was the other half of her soul. That tends to tie two fae together. But if he had answered my question before, I don't think I could’ve let him leave that room, at least not alive.